There are some who believe the NRL's contentious decision to allow Matthew Lodge to play with the Brisbane Broncos this season will somehow be good for rugby league.

This assumption is not based on teammate Darius Boyd's hopeful prediction Lodge will one day be a State of Origin star or Wayne Bennett's yearning for (yet another) fairy tale premiership.

It is due to the false premise that the NRL is the cockroach of national competitions and nothing, not matter how toxic, can kill it. That "rugby league thrives on scandal!"

This misconception has led the most vituperative of the media hacks and crisis merchants to justify their salacious gossip, agenda-riddled headlines and associated bile with the self-serving mantra: "Rugby league thrives on scandal!"

Of course the NRL does not thrive on scandal; it somehow survives despite it. Largely because the game is at an athletic peak and the baked-on fans are touchingly loyal, even while some of those supposed to administer, publicise, exalt or provide subjective analysis on the competition too often let them down.

Lodge was cleared to play for the Broncos in early November — when the pending Ashes series was the main subject of media conversation.

These time lapses have been used both to justify Lodge's registration and to shoot those messengers now condemning the NRL's decision.

"It happened a long time ago and Matthew has changed" and "If it is such a bad decision, why didn't anyone object three months ago?" are the rather limp defences used by those more interested in having Lodge in a Broncos jersey than seeing him pay fair restitution to his traumatised victims.

So compelling Greenberg said he had looked into Lodge's eyes and been convinced he was fit to reclaim his place in the game.

Unfortunately, Greenberg does not seem to have looked in the eyes of Lodge's traumatised victims, including the then nine year-old boy who still suffers night tremors because of the attack, and comprehended the lasting harm the player he is embracing has caused.

Victims had no say in Lodge decision

In criminal court cases often the most compelling moment is the victim impact statement.

So even if we didn't jump up and down three months ago when Lodge was reinstated, surely we are entitled to make a noise upon hearing this testimony.

And if this is not enough to change the minds of those who believe Lodge deserves his golden ticket, or just happy the Broncos had picked up a cheap front-rower, it was reported in the Sunday Telegraph that the NRL was aware Lodge had pleaded guilty to assaulting a former girlfriend some time ago.

This is at odds with the NRL's previous statements and, particularly, the league's stance that Lodge was being given a "second chance".

Make that a third chance, and one that puts Greenberg in a particularly sticky situation.

Greenberg was Canterbury Bulldogs chief executive when evidence of an alleged domestic assault involving champion fullback Ben Barba was not revealed to the NRL.

That was something that could have could have cost Greenberg the chance to assume his now powerful position, even as he maintained he had acted in the best interests of everyone concerned.

Safe to say if Greenberg has succumbed to the wishes of powerful agents and clubs in reinstating Lodge while not taking the very serious previous offence into consideration, he won't be the most popular man at White Ribbon Day or Women in League Round this season.

Testing times for league administration

At this point, you might normally suggest this is the first moment when new Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter Beattie could step in, flex a bit of muscle and restore confidence in the game's administration.

But, rugby league being rugby league, you wonder if Queensland-based, Brisbane Broncos-supporting Beattie would choose this as the first boat to rock.

As it is, Lodge's reinstatement has overshadowed what should be a joyous start to the season; one preceded by a warm tribute to the brilliant Jonathan Thurston and Cameron Smith and before which, quite cleverly, the NRL has promoted the hope created by stars such as Cooper Cronk who have defected to new clubs, not bemoaning the loss of the "one team player".

Some will continue to claim any crisis, whether caused by questionable decisionslike the Lodge case or confected by the worst of the game's media muckrakers, maintains interest in the NRL.

Of course, instead, it merely creates a stench that causes many to ignore or actively avoid what is, in so many other ways, a fantastic competition.